NASA Veterans Take On New Roles at Jet Propulsion Laboratory

NASA has promoted three space professionals to its Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ensuring the facility has leaders capable of ensuring its success.

JPL Deputy Associate Director Howard Eisen is taking on another role at the facility as its chief engineer, contributing his experience to ensure the success of missions and projects within the laboratory. Eisen has been with the laboratory for over 36 years, holding technical and leadership positions, including flight systems manager for the Mars 2020/Perseverance Mars rover and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The other appointees are Keyur Patel as associate director for flight projects and mission success and Todd Gaier as director of astronomy and physics, NASA said.

The new laboratory officials’ promotion comes after Leslie Livesay took over as JPL deputy director in March, succeeding Larry James after a over a decade-long stint as its head.

The facility has been helping advance next-generation jet propulsion technologies with several contractors. In March, it tapped Airbus to develop and manufacture two satellites for the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment-Continuity mission, an initiative to measure Earth’s gravity field to determine changes in groundwater, oceans and land.